Improvement in whi ffletrees



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARRINGTON GIBSON, OF RIVER FALLS, AND WILLIAM M. NEWOOMB, OF CLIFTON, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHIFFLETREES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 53A 36, dated March 27, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARRINGTON GlnsoN, of the town of River Falls, and WVILLIAM M. NEWCOMB, of the town of Clifton, in the county of Pierce and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and Improved Whitfletree, by the use of which a horse may be easily and instantly detached from a carriage or other objcct to which he may be attached, should he become unmanageable, or when itis desirable so to do; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the construction and operation of said invention.

The nature of ourinvention consists in constructing whiftletrees with a metallic band or ferrule upon each end. Said ferrules are made with projections or lips upon the side next to the horse. Between these lips, and pivoted to them, abent lever is placed, one arm of which extends parallel, or nearly so, with the body of the whitlietree. Near the point where it is pivoted to the lips said lever bends at, or nearly at, right angle, and extends across the end of the whiftletree, and bends back beyond the center, forming a loop in the shape of the letter U. Slots or oval holes are made through the sides of this loop in a line with the center of the end of the whiffletree. A headless pin or bolt is rigidly fastened in or to the end of the whiffletree and extends through the looped ends of the lever. On this pin, and between the sides of the looped end of the lever, the eye of the harness tug or trace is hitched. A springunder the parallel arm of thelever holds the looped end in its place against the end of the whiffletree, and the eye of the tug upon the pin. A rod is attached to the end of the lever, which is parallel to the body of the whiffletree, and passes through the whiffletree, angular when necessary, and is bent in a loop or ring on the opposite side. In these loops a strap is attached and extends to carriage or some convenient place for the driver.

To enable any one skilled in the manufacture to construct and use our invention, we will explain it more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts. (Both ends being alike, only one end is lettered.)

A is the body of the whiftletree; B, a metallic band formed with the projections 0, (only one shown in the drawings,) between which the bent leverD is pivoted so as to move freely at E. The lever D is bent at F so as to extend across the end of the whiffletree, and bends back, as at G, far enough to encircle the pin H and move easily upon it. The pin H is fastened to the end of the whiffletree by any means to secure it firmly. The eye of the tug or trace is hitched upon the pin H, at I, within the bend of the end of the lever. fis a spring which holds the lever D in its proper place. H is a rod, attached by a joint to the end of the lever at L, and passes through the whiftletree and is bentin a loop at M, in which a strap is attached. N is the strap, extending from the loops to the carriage, by which the lever D is operated to detach the horse.

\Ve attach the whiffletree to a carriage or double-tree by any of the usual modes. By pressing upon the arm of the lever D the eye of the tug can be hitched upon the pin H, and when it is desirable both tugs may be instantly thrown from the pins by pulling upon the strap N. For places where such arrangement is necessary we would place a guard over the springs andlevers, havingsuitable holes for the tugs to pass through, so as to prevent the horse from being detached by bushes or other obstructions coming in contact with the lever.

What we claim as our invention, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is

The bands B, with the lips O, bent lever D in combination with the pin H, spriugf, or its V equivalent, rod H, and strap N, constructed substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ARRINGTON GIBSON. WILLIAM M. NE WGOMB.

'Witnesses W M. A. TOZER, GEO. P. BRACKETT. 

